We Tested Popular LED Face Masks to See Which Are Worth the Hype

Why we like it: The Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask stands out by combining LED red light therapy with cryotherapy for a refreshing, spa-like experience at home. It uses red and blue LED lights to target collagen production and acne while delivering a cooling effect on your under-eyes.

Who is it best for: Unlike traditional LED masks, this one is designed for quick sessions, making it easy to fit into busy skincare routines. You can choose from four treatment options: Better Aging (6 minutes — to target fine lines and wrinkles), Skin Clearing (8 minutes — for acne), Skin Sustain (4 minutes — for maintaining glowy skin) or Under Eye Revive (5-15 minutes — cooling routine without LEDs). Using the controller, you can choose from three cooling settings to fit what you’re most comfortable with. You can also track your progress to see how many sessions (and which ones) you’ve taken.

From the first use, I noticed how the cooling sensation instantly soothed my face (similar to an ice roller). I find the Under Eye Revive especially helpful in the morning to depuff my under eyes.

What I love most about the CryoGlow is how lightweight it is at 1.49 pounds, making it convenient to pack or have on while you multitask.

Who should not get it: At $350, it certainly is an investment, but I also think it’s the best bang for your buck, as it targets multiple skin concerns. It is also the cheapest mask on this list.

Why we like it: The Wrinkle Retreat Pro was designed to reach the skin’s depths that topical creams or other LED face masks can’t. It has 320 LEDs with four wavelengths that penetrate different skin layers. It offers near-infrared light (830nm), which reaches the deepest skin layers; and deep red light (660nm), which penetrates mid to deep dermis. Another neat feature is that it also has amber light (605nm), which helps with lymphatic drainage and achieving that LED face mask glow. I also really like how short the treatment time is, at only 3 minutes. It’s one of the shorter treatment times among the products on this list, which makes it easy to incorporate into my night routine.

Who should get it: This mask is great for those with deeper-set wrinkles who aren’t ready or willing to get injectables to treat them. Like with other red light therapy masks, you also have to be willing to commit to three to five treatments a week for a few months for the best results,

Who shouldn’t get it: If you’re under 25 (when collagen production starts to decline) or just looking for a mask to help with hyperpigmentation or just a subtle glow, I think you can save money and skip this mask. If you want to slow the appearance of wrinkles or target fine lines and deep wrinkles, then this mask might be for you.

Why we like it: The Chrona red light therapy mask uses a non-contact design that positions the LEDs at about 1 cm from the skin, creating what Dreame calls a “3D light chamber effect” that’s meant to improve light distribution (traditional masks let light escape through the edges). I like that the mask has a border around the eyes so light doesn’t enter them. This is especially important for those with light sensitivity. This mask is FDA-cleared and SGS-tested (meaning a product has been independently tested by SGS SA to meet specific national standards for quality, safety and compliance.

Who it’s best for: Anyone who’s looking for a red light therapy mask that doesn’t have cords. If you’re someone who can’t sit still, this mask is for you: it’s entirely cordless (even the remote is cordless) and features a wide viewing window, which is great for reading, working and watching TV.

Who shouldn’t get it: Those looking for a mask with special features like under-eye cooling or built-in massage, since the Chrona doesn’t offer them. It’s also currently only sold in the US.

Why we like it: While this mask is deemed the best affordable LED mask, nothing about it feels cheap. The mask is made from soft medical-grade silicone that molds seamlessly onto your face. In the inner shell, you’ll see 324 LEDs that cover your entire face and extend under the chin. (This is the only mask on the list that also covers the under chin.)

I also appreciate the three settings you can choose: red and near-infrared (stimulates collagen production); blue and near-infrared (targets acne-causing bacteria); and red, blue, and near-infrared (combines anti-aging and healing benefits). I also love that you can set the intensity from one (being the lowest) to five (being the highest).

If your eyes are sensitive to red light therapy, the mask comes with removable eye cups to prevent light from entering your eyes.

Who it’s best for: This mask is best for those who are seeking the glow a red-light therapy mask gives, and also for those who have mild to moderate acne, since users can combine treatments for both. I’d also recommend this mask to anyone on a budget who is looking for an effective and FDA-cleared device.

Who shouldn’t get it: This mask delivers on everything you would want to get from an LED face mask for a much lower price, and I recommend it for anyone. However, if you’re looking for a mask with an ultra-premium feel, like the TheraFace by Therabody, then this isn’t the mask for you.

Why we like it: Omnilux is one of the most popular LED face masks on the market, and for good reason: Its tech is cleared with the FDA, and it contains the right formula of light for anti-aging and brightening results (633nm red light and 830nm of near-infrared). Price-wise, it’s not the most expensive out there and is fairly middle-of-the-road. Of course, in LED face mask land, that means it’s still a big chunk of change to drop.

Who is it best for: I’ve been wearing the Omnilux Contour on and off for the past few months, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t think I’ve used it consistently enough to see improvements in fine lines (for me, that’s mostly around my mouth), but I do like how it gives me a bit of a glow after. I plan to keep using it, as I was not expecting any LED face mask to work “miracles” or drastically change my face overnight. 

Who should not get it: One thing about all Omnilux LED masks in general is that it has a cord and power button you’ll need to keep with you while using it. I don’t mind this at all, since I use my light therapy time as an opportunity to lie on the ground and practice mindfulness, but for multitaskers who want to do light therapy while doing chores, this may be annoying, and they may opt for a different mask.

This mask also doesn’t offer blue light, so it wouldn’t be best for those with acne.

Why we like it: The CurrentBody LED face mask is a great option for those seeking professional-grade skincare treatments from home. This mask offers a combination of red, infrared and near-infrared light therapies to address multiple skin concerns, such as fine lines, wrinkles, acne and uneven skin tone.

The red light stimulates collagen production; the infrared firms, tightens and brightens the skin; and the near-infrared targets areas where signs of aging are more pronounced, like wrinkles.

Who is it best for: It has an adjustable strap and a lightweight design, which will make it comfortable for most people to wear for the 10-minute sessions. I also appreciate that this mask covers the area under your chin, which I haven’t seen from most other brands.

Who should not get it: On the price side, this is the third most expensive mask on this list despite it having a lower irradiance of 30 mW/cm2, so if your budget is under $470, this wouldn’t be the right mask for you.

Why we like it: Complete with 360 LEDs, the Illumina Face Mask offers triple wavelength technology, featuring red, infrared and blue light therapy to target wrinkles, acne, sun damage and enlarged pores. It has also been FDA-cleared, IEC safety tested and ISO quality assured. It is recommended to be used 3-5 times per week for 10 minutes. Once you start a treatment, it will automatically turn off after 10 minutes.

We also have to mention that this product offers the longest trial period of 100 days.

Who is it best for: iRestore calls Illumina the “most multitasker-friendly mask,” and they are right. It has a built-in eye shield and slit for breathing, hovers over the face for comfort and to prevent sweating, is lightweight at only 181 grams and has dual straps for a secure fit. It has a MagSafe-inspired, snap-on power cable that connects to an easy-to-use remote that can be clipped onto a piece of clothing for moveability. Plus, the remote is interchangeable and can be used across different iRestore masks.

The Illumina Face Mask comes with a storage pouch and microfiber cloth for cleaning. It requires a USB power adapter (not included) for charging and takes 2 hours to charge.

Who should not get it: This is the second most expensive mask on this list, so if $499 isn’t in your budget, this wouldn’t be the right mask for you. While this mask has the longest return window of 100 days, it does have the shortest warranty of 1 year. However, you can extend it to three years for an extra $49.